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Workforce & wellbeing
Supporting bystanders after failed resuscitation
Bystanders and Close Ones in Unsuccessful Resuscitation: An Overlooked Population in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Nursing Reports · Added 27 October 2026
An Italian perspective paper argues bystanders and relatives involved in unsuccessful out-of-hospital resuscitation are an overlooked group at risk of lasting psychological distress, and sketches supportive follow-up and referral roles for emergency clinicians.
- Study type
- Other
- Design
- Perspective/review
- Participants
- Not reported
- Main finding
- Unsuccessful resuscitation involvement can cause emotional distress, intrusive memories, guilt and PTSD symptoms; supportive follow-up contact and referral pathways are proposed over formal debriefing
- Caveat
- A perspective paper — the evidence on supportive follow-up effectiveness remains preliminary
- Bottom line
- Context only
Why it matters in Australia (Medium relevance). As community responder schemes grow, more Australians will perform CPR that fails — but this is a perspective piece with preliminary evidence, framed around nursing roles.
Learning goal
Understand my role in recognising and supporting bystander psychological distress after unsuccessful resuscitation.
More
- Topic: Workforce & wellbeing
- Daily scan: 27 October 2026
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